Tag: ship building memorial

Kokoda Track Memorial Walk Rhodes

Set in lovely gardens on the banks of the Parramatta River, the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk is a great tribute to this important part of the defence of Australia in World War 2. With ample parking and Rhodes Station under a 10 minute walk away it is very easy to get to.

The tropical like rain forest of the gardens represents the conditions the soldiers fought in New Guinea. As you walk along the track, information boards explain the battles that took place, adding to the understanding of the events. When you are looking at each of the boards, there is an automatic voice over explaining each section.

Located in the centre of the walk is a memorial to those who fought on the Track. The centre piece comprises a striking series of granite walls on which images of the New Guinea Campaign have been sandblasted. There is also a water feature which cascades over the granite walls and areas surrounding the walk. It forms a fitting tribute to those who fought and died there.

We found it to be an easy and informative walk, in a beautiful setting. There is a Kokoda Track Cafe in the park where we had a coffee before returning to Rhodes Station.

The Brays Bay Shipbuilding Memorial

On the waterfront and next to the memorial walk is a tribute to the ship building that operated here from 1939 to 1945. Ships’ names are set in a walkway down to the water and a sculpture representing a ship sits nearby. This made an interesting addition to the memorial walk while teaching us a little about the wartime industry in the area.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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